Geranium plant named ‘Duemelro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duemelro’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duemelro’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duemelro’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Zonal Geranium cultivars with numerous and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2002 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number F-18-21, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z98-9999-29, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Duemelro was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Duemelro has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duemelro’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duemelro’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact and upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Semi-double red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium are not as vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Duemellina, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,037. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Duemellina in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were taller than plants of         the cultivar Duemellina.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves and longer         petioles than plants of the cultivar Duemellina.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had fewer flowers per umbel         than plants of the cultivar Duemellina.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and cultivar Duemellina         differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duemelro’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were about two months from planting when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Duemelro. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number F-18-21, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number Z98-9999-29,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Compact and upright plant habit;             uniformly rounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit. Freely basal branching habit with about three lateral             branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 13 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 22 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 5 mm. Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Texture: Slightly             pubescent. Strength: Strong. Color: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             137B; venation, 144A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 138B; venation, 144A. Zonation pattern: Not             observed.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 10.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers persistent. Flowers             not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 15 to 20             flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             Germany, flowering is continuous from spring throughout the             summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.45 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: 67C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five to six. Length:             About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly             flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper surface: 67B. When opening, lower             surface: 73A to 73B. Fully opened, upper surface: 57B;             towards the base, close to 73D; color becoming closer to 64C             with development; venation, similar to surface color. Fully             opened, lower surface: 73A to 73B; venation, similar to             surface color.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About two. Length: About             1.85 cm. Width: About 9.5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: 67B. When opening, lower surface: 73A to 73B. Fully             opened, upper surface: 57B; towards the base, close to 73D;             color becoming closer to 64C with development; venation,             similar to surface color. Fully opened, lower surface: 73A             to 73B; venation, similar to surface color.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2.4 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.9 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five to seven. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             shape: Oval. Anther color: 35A. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma             size: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 66B. Style length: About             2 mm. Style color: 66B. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duemelro’ as illustrated and described. 